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Grandmother and grandson drowning was 'tragic accident'

A grandmother and her grandson who were found dead in a lake earlier this year drowned in what was described as a "tragic accident".

Dawn Mullany, 71, from Castle Bytham, and Laurence Mullany-Mills, six, from Ketton, Rutland, were found dead in Holywell Lake, near Stamford, in February.

Post-mortem examinations found the pair had drowned, but despite police inquiries it is still not known how they came to be in the water, an inquest heard.

Following the conclusion of the inquest into the pair's deaths, Lincolnshire Police today described the deaths as an "awful, tragic accident".

It is thought the pair went to the lake to feed the ducks but police have been unable to establish how they ended up in the water.

Recording a narrative verdict today, coroner Professor Robert Forrest concluded there had been no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident and that the pair had drowned, Lincolnshire Police said.

Laurence's mother contacted the force around 9.20pm on February 16 after her son failed to return to their home in Ketton.

In a statement released by Lincolnshire Police, the family of the pair said: "We have known for some time what the inquest would and would not be able to tell us.

"We will never exactly know what happened that day, other than a tragic accident that's taken away two wonderful people and beloved pillars of our family.

"Now we have to continue with the long and difficult journey that is rebuilding our lives with the support of our family and friends and the loving memory of our years spent with Dawn and Laurie."